A prominent Right to Information activist, who had filed a public interest litigation against illegal mining in Gir forest region, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen opposite Gujarat high court in Ahmedabad [Images] on Tuesday, police said.

Amit Jethwa was shot from a close range by the assailants who fled on a motorcycle after the incident, they said.

Police inspector H M Kundaliya said Jethwa died on the spot after he was shot.

"His body was being sent for postmortem and search for the assailants was on," Kundaliya told PTI.

Jethwa was very active in conservation of wildlife, especially lions, in Gir area. He has also helped the police solve some cases relating to lion poaching.

Jethwa had recently filed a PIL in the HC against illegal mining in the Gir region of Junagadh district which is considered the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world.